Direction indicator switches with cancelling mechanism

ABSTRACT

A direction indicator switch for a road vehicle having a central off position and operative positions on opposite sides respectively of the off position and detent means for resisting movement of the rotor of the switch relative to the base of the switch from any one of the positions of the switch. The switch includes electrical contacts operable in the operative positions of the rotor to complete electrical circuits to indicator lights on opposite sides respectively of the vehicle in use. The rotor carries first and second cancelling members which are resiliently urged to respective rest positions on the rotor, the cancelling members being out of the path of movement of a striker carried by the steering wheel of the vehicle when the rotor is in its off position. The cancelling members are engageable respectively by the striker in the operative positions of the rotor and the arrangement is such that during cancelling movement of the striker the striker engages one or other of the cancelling members and applies thereto a force to rotate the rotor its off position. The resistance to movement of the cancelling member is so chosen as to be in excess of the resistance to movement of the rotor imparted by the detent means so that the rotor is moved relative to the base in preference to movement of the cancelling member relative to the rotor. However, the resistance to movement of the cancelling member is such that if the rotor is held against its return movement, for example, manually, then the cancelling member is moved relative to the rotor to permit the striker to pass the cancelling member.

United States Patent [191 Wilkinson [1 3,745,278 1 July 10, 1973 DIRECTION INDICATOR SWITCHES WITH CANCELLING MECHANISM Norman Wilkinson, Barrowford, Near Nelson, England [73] Assignee: Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited,

Birmingham, England [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 204,608

[75] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-J. R. Scott Attorney-Holman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A direction indicator switch for a road vehicle having 24 El E3 i9 a central off position and operative positions on opposite sides respectively of the off position and detent means for resisting movement of the rotor of the switch relative to the base of the switch from any one of the positions of the switch. The switch includes electrical contacts operable in the operative positions of the rotor to complete electrical circuits to indicator lights on opposite sides respectively of the vehicle in use. The rotor carries first and second cancelling members which are resiliently urged to respective rest positions on the rotor, the cancelling members being out of the path of movement of a striker carried by the steering wheel of the vehicle when the rotor is in its off position. The cancelling members are engageable respectively by the striker in the operative positions of the rotor and the arrangement is such that during cancelling movement of the striker the striker engages one or other of the cancelling members and applies thereto a force to rotate the rotor its off position. The resistance to movement of the cancelling member is so chosen as to be in excess of the resistance to movement of the rotor imparted by the detent means so that the rotor is moved relative to the base in preference to movement of the cancelling member relative to the rotor. However, the resistance to movement of the cancelling member is such that if the rotor is held against its return movement, for example, manually, then the cancelling member is moved relative to the" rotor to permit the striker to pass the cancelling member.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented July 10, 1913 2 Shoots-Shoot 1 FIGI.

/IA l7 l6 Patented July 10, 1973 3,745,278

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DIRECTION INDICATOR SWITCHES WITH CANCELLING MECHANISM This invention relates to vehicle direction indicator switches of the kind which can be cancelled in use from either of two operative positions to an off position by a striker rotatable with the steering shaft of the vehicle.

According to the invention, a direction indicator switch of the kind specified includes a base, a rotor mounted on the base for rotational movement from a first, central, off position to either of second and third operative positions on opposite sides respectively of the first position, detent means for resisting movement of the rotor relative to the base from any one of the first, second and third positions, electrical contacts operable in the second position of the rotor to complete a first electrical circuit, and operable in the third position of the rotor to complete a second electrical circuit, no circuit through the electrical contacts being completed in the first position of the rotor, and first and second can celling members carried by the rotor and resiliently urged to respective rest positions on the rotor, the cancelling members being out of the path of movement of the striker when the rotor is in its first position, but being engageable respectively by the striker in the second and third positions of the rotor, the arrangement being such that during cancelling. movement of the striker to move the rotor from its second or its third position to its first position, the striker engages the first or the second cancelling member and applies thereto a force to rotate the rotor to its first position, the resistance to movement of the cancelling member relative to the rotor in this condition of the switch being in excess of the resistance to movement of the rotor imparted by the detent means so that the rotor is moved relative to the base in preference to movement of the cancelling member relative to the rotor.

Preferably the resistance to movement of the cancelling members is such that if the rotor is held against return movement during cancelling movement of the striker then the respective cancelling member is moved relative to the rotor to permit the striker to pass the cancelling member.

Desirably the cancelling member can be moved relative to the rotor by the striker during movement of the striker in a direction opposite to cancelling movement.

Conveniently the striker is rotatably mounted on said base and is coupled in use to the steering shaft of the vehicle in which the switch is utilized.

Desirably the base of the switch is provided with an aperture through which the steering shaft extends in use, so that the base encircles the steering shaft.

Preferably each cancelling member is defined by a roller, the two rollers being spring urged into engagement with respective cam forms on the rotor.

One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a direction indicator switch with the top cover thereof removed,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the switch shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, partly diagrammatic, representation of the switch shown in FIG. 1 during a cancelling operation.

Referring to the drawings, the switch includes a moulded synthetic resin body 11 arranged to be mounted on the stationary tube 12 of the steering column of a road vehicle. The body 11 is to be mounted at the free end of the tube 12 where the tube 12 terminates within the passenger compartment of the road vehicle. The rotatable steering shaft '13 of the steering column projects through the body 11, for connection to a conventional steering wheel. At its end remote from the tube 12 the body 11 is recessed, and the open end of the body 11 is closed by a cover plate 14 secured to the body 11 in a convenient manner. Joumalled for rotation in the body 11, about the axis of the shaft 13 is a steel striker sleeve 15 through which the shaft 13 extends in use. Means (not shown) is provided for keying the sleeve 15 to the shaft 13, thus the sleeve 15 rotates with the column 13. A moulded synthetic resin rotor 16 is supported by the body 11, and is provided with a pair of oppositely directed posts 17 which are received in corresponding holes in the body 11 and the cover plate 14 to pivotally mount the rotor 16 on the body 11, for movement about an axis parallel to, but spaced from the axis of the sleeve 15. The rotor 16 is provided with an elongated, arcuate aperture 18 through which the sleeve 15 extends, the width of the aperture being slightly greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve 15, and having its center of curvature lying on the pivotal axis of'the rotor. Thus, the rotor 16 encircles the sleeve 15, but can pivot relative to the sleeve 15 and the body 11 through an angular distance determined by stop means on the rotor and the body.

Extending radially from the rotor 16, and on the opposite side of the sleeve 15 from the posts 17 is an integral extension 19. The extension 19 is formed with upper and lower channels 21, 22 which are closed at their inner ends, and the outer ends of which are positioned adjacent a cam form 23 integral with the body 11. Engaged in each channel 21, 22.is a respective cylindrical-members 24, 25, the members 24, 25 being urged by respective springs, housed within the channels .21, 22 respectively, towards the cam form 23. The cam form 23 presentsa V-shaped recess 26 towards the members 24, 25, the recess 26 being defined by adjacent walls of a pair of triangular projections of the cam form 23. The cam form 23 is so positioned, that when the members 24, 25 engage in the recess 26, then the rotor 16 is so positioned relative to the body 11 that the sleeve 15 is mid-way between the ends of the slot 18 in the rotor.

The electrical contact (not shown) are provided within the switch and are'operable by movement of the rotor 16 relative to the body 11. The cam form 23 and the members 24, 25 define a detent arrangement for retaining the rotor 16 in any one of three angularly spaced positions relative to the body 11. When the members 24, 25 are engaged in the recess 26, then the rotor 16 is in a central, off position wherein no electrical circuits are completed through the electrical contacts of the Switch. Movement of the rotor 16 angularly in one direction from the first, central, off position causes the members 24, 25 to ride over one of said triangular projections of the cam form 23, whereafter the springs associated with the members 24, 25 cause the rotor to rotate in said angular direction, until the appropriatestops on the body and the rotor arrest the movement of the rotor. Such movement of the rotor achieves a second, operative position wherein, in use, a first electrical circuit is completed through the switch, the first electrical circuit including the direction indicator lamps of the vehicle on one side of the vehicle. Similarly, movement of the rotor in the opposite angular direction from the first, central, off position achieves a third operative position wherein a second electrical circuit is completed through the electrical contacts of the switch, the second electrical circuit including the direction indicator lamps on the opposite side of the vehicle.

Between the base of the channel 21, and the base of the channel 22, the projection 19 is hollow, and houses a compression spring 27, the spring 27 acting at one end against the outer end of the projection 19, and acting at its other end against an elongated, metal, channel-shaped part 28. The channel-shaped part 28 extends through the projection 19 at right angles thereto, and lies in the plane of rotation of the rotor 16. The closed, base of the channel-shaped part 28 is presented to the spring 27, and the open side of the channelshaped part is presented to the striker sleeve 15. The striker sleeve is provided with a striker projection 29 which is integral with the sleeve 15, and which extends radially outwardly therefrom. The part 28 lies in the path of movement of the striker 29, as the sleeve 15 is rotated, and the striker 29 can pass between the opposite walls of the channel-shaped part 28. On opposite sides of the projection 19, the rotor 16 is formed with a pair of V-shaped channels 31, 32 respectively. Positioned within each channel 31, 32 is a respective steel rollers 33, 34, the rollers 33, 34 being trapped in the V- shaped grooves 31, 32 by the part 28 under the action of the spring 27.

The arrangements of the parts is such that when the rotor 16 is in its central, off position, then the striker 29 has an unobstructed circle of rotation, the rotor 16 being provided with an internal circumferential groove 35 in which the striker 29 runs, and the operation of the switch is as follows.

The second, operative position of the rotor is achieved by moving the rotor 16 in a clockwise direction (as considered in FIG. 1), and in the second position of the rotor, an electrical circuit is completed through the contacts of the switch, which in use, contains the direction indicator lamps on the right-hand side of the vehicle. The rollers 33, 34 are urged to rest positions relative to the rotor 16 by the part 28 and the spring 27, and when the rotor 16 is moved into its second position the roller 34, which of course moves with the rotor, is moved into the path of movement of the striker 29. As the steering shaft 13 is rotated in a clockwise direction, to perform the indicated right-hand turn the striker 29 will engage the roller 34, after almost a complete rotation of the shaft 13, and will push against the roller 34 in a direction to move the rotor 16 beyond its second position. The rotor 16 cannot of course move beyond its second position and the roller 34 will be displaced along the inner of the pair of walls of the groove 32, thereby moving the channel-shaped member 28 against the action of the spring 27. In moving in this manner, the roller 34 will be moved out of the path of movement of the striker 29, thereby permitting the striker 29 to pass the roller 34 without affecting the operation of the switch. lmmediatelythe striker 29 passes the roller 34 the roller 34 is returned to its rest position by the spring 27 and the part 28. When the indicated right-hand turn has been completed, the steering shaft 13 will of course be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, to return the vehicle to a straight course. The counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 13 will once again cause the striker 29 to engage the roller 34, but in the opposite direction to the previous engagement. Once again, there will be a tendency for the roller 34 to move under the action of the striker 29. However, the direction in which the roller 34 is urged to move by the striker 29 in this condition, is substantially at right angles to, and towards, the outer of the pair of walls of the V-shaped groove 32. Thus considerable force is required to move the roller 34 relative to the rotor 16 along said outer wall of the groove 32. The force which is required to cause the roller to so move is far in excess of the force necessary to cause the rotor 16 to move back to its center, off position against the action of the members 24, 25 and their respective springs which initially resist movement of the rotor back to its central off position. Thus, the rotor 16 will be returned to its central off position from its second, operative position by the striker 29 in preference to movement of the roller 34 from its rest position relative to the rotor. Movement of the rotor 16 back to its central, off position moves the roller 34 out of the path of movement of the striker, so that further movement of the striker is not impeded by the roller 34. Thus the switch is cancelled by the movement of the shaft 13 in returning the vehicle to a straight course once the turn has been negotiated.

Should the rotor 16 be held in the second, operative position during such cancelling movement, then the roller 34 will be moved from its rest position, along the outer of the pair of walls of the groove 32, to permit the striker 29 to pass the roller 34. Thus the switch can be deliberately held in its second operative position during a cancelling movement without damage to the switch.

The operation of the switch in relation to a left turn is identical to that described above with the exception that it is the roller 33 which is engaged by the striker 29.

The rotor 16 is provided with an operating lever 36 and preferably the striker 29 is hardened to minimize inaccuracies due to wear in use.

I claim:

1. A vehicle direction indicator switch of the type which can be cancelled in use from either of two operative positions to an off position by a striker rotatable with the steering shaft of the vehicle, said switch including a base, means on said base whereby said switch can be mounted in position in said vehicle in use, a rotor, means mounting said rotor on said base so as to be capable of rotational movement relative to said base from a first, central, off position to either of second and third operative positions on opposite sides respectively of said first position, detent means resisting movement of said rotor relative to said base from any one of said first, second and third positions, electrical contact means operable in said second position of said rotor relative to said base to complete a first electrical circuit, and operable in said third position of said rotor relative to said base to complete a second electrical circuit,'first and second cam forms on said rotor, first and second rollers carried by said rotor and engaged with said first and second cam forms respectively, resilient means urging said first and second rollers to respective rest positions on said first and second cam forms, the arrangement of said switch being such that in use when said rotor is in said first, off position said rollers lie out of said path of movement of said associated striker, whereas when said rotor is in either its second position,

or its third position, then said first, or the second roller will lie in the path of movement of said associated striker, the shape of the first and second cam forms, and the force exerted by said resilient means providing a resistance to movement of said rollers relative to said rotor, and said resistance to movement of said rollers relative to said rotor during normal'cancelling of the switch by engagement of said associated striker with one or other of the rollers being in excess of the resistance to movement of the rotor imparted by the detent means so that during normal cancelling the rotor is moved relative to the base in preference to movement of the first, or second, roller relative to the rotor.

2. A switch as claimed-in claim 1 in which said first and second cam forms and said resilient means are such that said resistance to movement of said first and second rollers is such that if the rotor is held against return movement during cancelling movement of said striker then said respective roller is moved relative to said rotor to permit said striker to pass said roller.

3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which said first and second rollers can be moved relative to said rotor by the striker during movement of said striker in a direction opposite to said cancelling movement.

4. A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which said striker is rotatably mounted on said base and is coupled in use to said steering shaft of the vehicle in which said switch is utilized.

5. A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which said baseof said switch is provided with an aperture through which said steering shaft extends in use so that said base encircles said steering shaft. 

1. A vehicle direction indicator switch of the type which can be cancelled in use from either of two operative positions to an off position by a striker rotatable with the steering shaft of the vehicle, said switch including a base, means on said base whereby said switch can be mounted in position in said vehicle in use, a rotor, means mounting said rotor on said base so as to be capable of rotational movement relative to said base from a first, central, off position to either of second and third operative positions on opposite sides respectively of said first position, detent means resisting movement of said rotor relative to said base from any one of said first, second and third positions, electrical contact means operable in said second position of said rotor relative to said base to complete a first electrical circuit, and operable in said third position of said rotor relative to said base to complete a second electrical circuit, first and second cam forms on said rotor, first and second rollers carried by said rotor and engaged with said first and second cam forms respectively, resilient means urging said firsT and second rollers to respective rest positions on said first and second cam forms, the arrangement of said switch being such that in use when said rotor is in said first, off position said rollers lie out of said path of movement of said associated striker, whereas when said rotor is in either its second position, or its third position, then said first, or the second roller will lie in the path of movement of said associated striker, the shape of the first and second cam forms, and the force exerted by said resilient means providing a resistance to movement of said rollers relative to said rotor, and said resistance to movement of said rollers relative to said rotor during normal cancelling of the switch by engagement of said associated striker with one or other of the rollers being in excess of the resistance to movement of the rotor imparted by the detent means so that during normal cancelling the rotor is moved relative to the base in preference to movement of the first, or second, roller relative to the rotor.
 2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which said first and second cam forms and said resilient means are such that said resistance to movement of said first and second rollers is such that if the rotor is held against return movement during cancelling movement of said striker then said respective roller is moved relative to said rotor to permit said striker to pass said roller.
 3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which said first and second rollers can be moved relative to said rotor by the striker during movement of said striker in a direction opposite to said cancelling movement.
 4. A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which said striker is rotatably mounted on said base and is coupled in use to said steering shaft of the vehicle in which said switch is utilized.
 5. A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which said base of said switch is provided with an aperture through which said steering shaft extends in use so that said base encircles said steering shaft. 